CA1264464A

CA1264464A - Document carrier envelope

Info

Publication number: CA1264464A
Application number: CA000508908A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Anthony R. Chandek; Donald E. Cooper; Leon J. Weistroffer; Daniel A. Bates
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-13
Filing date: 1986-05-12
Publication date: 1990-01-16
Also published as: US4644144A

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A document carrier envelope is particularly useful for protectively transporting checks being returned from an institution on which the check was written to the institution at which the check was deposited. The envelope is of opaque stock, thereby preserving confidentiality of the return check. The envelope is imprinted with coded indicia indicating specific financial data suitable for high speed processing. The envelope front and back panel are joined in facing contact along the margins of the edges, thereby reducing entry of air into the envelope and eliminating fouling the processing machinery. The envelope flap is notched to receive a letter opener, and the flap fold line is perforated, thereby contributing to high speed handling.

Description

12~ ;4 DOCUMENT CARRIER ENVELOPE
Backqround of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention. This invention pertains to data processing, and more particularly to carriers for transporting documents through high speed data processing machines.

2. Description of the Prior Art. High speed processing of checks is essential to modern finance. A recent estimate published in the Wall Street Journal stated that 60 million people in the United States have checking accounts and they write 100 million checks a day. To handle the huge volume of checks, ~financial institutions have invested heavily in automated~check pxocessin~ equlpment. Checks are imprinted wlth an elaborate system of coded magnetic information that identifies the depositor and the institution on which the check is written. High ~; ~ technology processing machines and overnight carriers speed checks~from the institutions in which they are deposited to the institutions on whlch they were written. The~entire process frequently takes only two business days.
However, problems are encountered if the institution on which the check was written finds there ~is not enough~mone~ in~the checkin~ account to cover the check. In that situation, it has to send the check back~to the~institution whère~it was deposited.; Checks must also be returned for other deflclencies, such as . .. .

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missing signatures or expired dates. One source estimates the number of returned checks approaches one million per day. Processing return checks is slow and insufficient. There is no organized system of magnetic information encoded on the checks for expediting their return to the institutions of deposit. Each institution handling a return check on its way back to the institution of deposit endorses the check. Such endorsements often obliterate the original endorsement, dates, and trace numbers, thus making traceback very difficult.
To alleviate the problems associated with processing return checks, special envelopes or carriers for the checks have been developed. One known return 1~ carrier is the MICRA (TM) transparent document carrier from Bastion Micra Document Carrier Division. That carrier is not entirely satisfactory, however, because it is open on one side, thus allowing loss of the check. In addition, the open side permits air to become trapped within the carrier; the trapped air interferes with machinery through which the carrier may be processed. ~ne face of the MICRA (TM) transparent document carrier is made of a transparent material so that the magnetic coded symbols on the face of the check are visible. However, there is no provision for encoding the symbols associated with the returning institutions. Also, the transparent material destroys all confidentiality associated with the check.
To preserve confidentiality, it has been pro~osed to make the carrier completely of opa~ue material. Holes are provided in one or more of the carrier panels so that the presence or absence of a document inside can be detected. However, the holes permit air to become trapped inside the carrier, thereby fouling the processing machinery.

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Oth~X know~ ~vcum~nt carrier3 ara di~clo~ed in U.S. Pa~enta 3,5B~,456; ~,43t~404; ~n~ 2~693l~0~
~ho~e carri~r~, however, suf fer ~rom th~s ~ame gen~ral deflcien~l~s as prevlou~ly m~ntlon~d.
S ~hu~, a ne~d exl8t8 for a r~tUrn ch~ck ¢arrler which sn~bl~s the chec~ to ~e inexpen~ively An~
reliably proc~s~e~ th~ou~h hl~h ~p~aa e~utpm~n~.

In ~ccora~rc~ w~th ~h~ preo~n~ ln~r~n'elon, a carrler i8 p~ovided ~or protectiv21y transportiny a ~o~um~nt through hlgh apeed data procea31ng ~y~tems in ~n e~fl~ent and r~liable manner. Thl~ 1~ accomplish~d ~y ~on~trU~ting th~ document Carri~r a~ a ~omple~ly ~a~led ~nv~lope ~or o~rrylng ~nd prote~t~ ng ~he 15 documen'c and encodlng th~ enveloE: e wlth in~o~m~tion ~it~bl~ ~o~ proC~sing ~chr~lgh ~h~ psed e~u~ pmen'c.
~he en~7elops i8 manu~tured tot~lly ~rom opaqu~ m~t~ri~l, thu~ pre~arvlng con~i~elltlality ot t~e 20 en~ e~ document,, The ~nYelop~ mater~al 1~ prQfel~bly made ~on~ ~ock o~ accur~a~al~ controlled ~hi~kne~
Th~ stocX iR pre~ferably o~ a dlstlr;~ti~e ¢olo~ that llow8 ~or easy d~ection when co-m~ngled w$th o~her documerlts in a documen~ tray~
~o mlnlmlze th~ quantlty ~ ai~ wl~hin -he clo3ed envelOpQ o~ t~e p~ nt invention, the margin~
of t~e front and back pan~L~ a~e ~oln~d to~ther~ a~ ~y an adh~elve, :Ln ~Cing coI~t~t alo~g three ~de~
th~reof . A~ a seeult t th~ envel~pe faca~ h~ve 30 n~atural t~ndency to lie flat in f~clng ~onl:~ct, r~ther t}~n~ to ~p~d apar'c E~ ~uld b~ the c2l~e 1~ the 0tock m~ wer~ ~nerely ~old~d.
q!he ~ env~lope 1~ 08tbl e by a 1~1? that 1 E~ecur~ y ~n E~ lv6~ or coh~ re ~ppl led to the i~la~
35 and ~ ~or~ ?wl~in~ ~rtion of an en~ele~p~ pæn~ han ... .

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th~ flaE;) 1~ clo~ed, ~ir bubbl~ ~o n~t i!'orm ln~ide the ~nvelopa du~ing ma~hlne proce~lng ~ ln~er~re ~rlth ~ho proces~ing m~chl~ery~ To p*rmit hlgh ~ee~
p~oc~s~lng on a return ahe~k, tha env~lctpe 1~ enco~led 5 wlth ln~ormatlon that id~ntifle~ the ch~dc a~ a hl~h ~pe~d ~eturri ~nd the clearlng ho~ ln~rm~tlvn~
Addltlonal ~ode~ lnfo~ tlon ldentiis~ th~ r~turnlnçJ
lnstitutivn, t~ ln~ltutlon of ~epo~'c, an~ he~X
doll~r ~mour~t.
~u~tller in ac:~rdan~e wl~h the pr~Bent invent~c;n, the env~lopa 1ap 1~ ~ormed with a notch ~t ona end thereof~ Th~ notch permlt~ 8 ~onver~tlon~l lett0~ open~r to be convenienk~ and xaE?l~ly ~ns~rt~d under th~ ~lap for openlng ~he envel~p~, t~lu~
15 contr~ butlng to hlgh ~pe~d operatlon~ . I'o fu~ther lncrea~e opening e$~iclency, ~he ~lap m~y be per~orated along the ~old llne wi~h tha a~sociate~ en~ opQ p~n~l.
The perforatlon~ al~o permlt e~p~ of air,.
Other ob~ ~t~ and a~v~nta~ o~ t~e inventlor 20 wlll b~come apparen~ to tho~e ~killed ln the ~rt from the dlsclo~3ure~

FIGURE 1 ~ ~ a ~ront ~rle~o o~ th~ ~oculn~nt carrier erlvelop~ o~ th~ pr~sent invqntion;
~S FIGUR~ 2 i3 a back view of the d~cument ca2~rler ~n~el~pe o~ the pre#~nt ln-reslt~ on showlng ~h~a back ~lap ln the s~aled ~onditlon;
FIG~RE 3 i~ a b~ck v~ew o~ tha do~ument ~arrier envelop~ o~ the pr~ nt l~ten~ n ~h~wn with 30 - th~3 ~lap ln the unsee~led ~ondlt~oT~; ~nd FIt;T?RE 4 iB ~ ronl; vlaw o~ ~ bl~nk o~ ~tock ~Erom which the document c~Lxrler ~n~relc:~pe oi~ the pr~nt irlv~ntion ~y ba ~na~.

Althou~h the di~t~lo~u~e h~r~o~ t~ile~

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arad exac'c to en~ those ~k~ d ln ~hg ~r~ to practlcq tll~ lnventlon, the phy~c~l etnbod Imet-t~ h~r~in disclo~ed merely exempllf~t th~ inventlon wh:Lch may b~
embodied ln o~r ~p~lfic ~tructur6~ ~he ~op~ o~ ~h~
5 in~entlon ~8 d~1n~ ln the alaims ~ppendsd h~3rets~
R~erring to FIG. 1, A ~ocum~nt c~rrler envelope 1 ~ 9 sho~ th~t includes the pre~eilt inven~lon. The docurnent c~rrl~r envelo~ ind~
par~lcular u~ulnss~ for prot~ctlvely tran~port~ ng 10 ::h~3ck ln h~ h speed c~eCk rs~urn oparAtlon~, but it will be und~rstoo~ th~t ~he lnvention 18 not limlted l:o ch~ck procas~ g appllc~tlo~.
Re~err~ ng to FIGs ~ 1, 2 , ~n~ 3 , ~h~ document c:~rrla~ env~lope t include~ a front panel 3, a back 15 panel 5, and a ~ p 7 . The $1ap 7 l~ ~ olned to ths ~ront panel 3 ~long ~ perP~rated fold lln~ 9~ The ~ont an~ b~ck panels axe ~oine~ along a ~ommon fold l lne 10 .
R~ rrin~ to FIG~ 4, B bl~nk 11 o~ ~tock 18 20 ~hown ~rom whLch th~ ~n~lo~ 1 m~y b~a m~nu~ ctured.
The blank 11 i~3 m~de of OpAqU~ tclc~c. A~ ~hown ln FIa.
~, the bac~ pan~l S i8 sl~htly nar~o~ than ~h~ ~ront pan~l 3, ~o th~t s~hen the panels are ~olded ~long l:he ~old line 10, the fr~ dg~ 12 Qf thl21 baclc ~a~ loes 25 not ~oln~:ide wlth ~lap ~old lin~ 9, but x~h~r l~
dlspls~ed thero~!~om by A~ ~l?a~ 15, A~ ~hown ln ~G. 4, one ~e oP ~h~ bs~k panel 5 h~s appliad th~eto a longlku~n~l ~trip o$ a ~uitabl~ ~stenln~ m~erlal t ~uch a~ ~n a~l~e~ 3, 30 ~d~ acent ~he fold lin~ 1 a u A palr o~ adhe~ ve ~trlp~
1~ are al~o ~ppll~d to the b~ck pan~L alon5~ t~e tr~ansver~0 ma~g~n~ on -he s~me ~ace ~ trlp 13.
P~e~r~bly, th~ adho~l~ra ~trip~ 17 xtenfl tha ~ull le~g~h o~ the m~rgl~ nd lnt~ect th~ longitu~ln~l 35 ~trlp 13 . q!hu~, when 'che bac3c ~nel 18 rold~d ~lonq the fold llne î O lnto acing co~act ~lth thG front panel, the adhesive atr~lp~ 13 and 17 a~here ~o 'ch~
:Eront pansl to ~reAte an envelopet FIG~ 2. It will be app~eclated ~h~t ~h~ adh~slve ~t~lp~ ~y b~ ~ppl~ o 5 th~ ~ront panel rather t~an to 'c~e b~ck p~nol . Tk~
out~lde face 1~ of the back panel 1~ provl~a~ wlth a longl~u~lnal ~trip 19 of a cohe~ive, which is pre~erably ~parated ~om th~ ~ree ed~e t ~ by a ~pac~
~0. A ~imilar cohe~lv~ ~tzl~ 21 i3 d~pc~lt~ Orl ~he 10 flap 7. Th~ ~trip a~ 1~ sep~t~d ~ th~ ~ol~ 11ne 5 by a ~paco Z~ When 'che ~lap 1~ folde~l over along :~old line 9 onto th~ b~k panel, the Coh0aiYe ~trip~ 1~ and 21 contflct ~o ~eal 'che envelope ~ub~tAntlally ~ontlnuou01y along ~11 fou~ e~ge~. ~Gcor~lnglyt a 15 document within t~ envelope cannot b~come 108t. In a~dl~lon, becau~e ~hre~ m~rglns o~ the b~ck an~ ~ron~
pan~ re ~ oined ln f~lng ¢onta~t ~y t~ ~trlp~ 13 and ~ 7, th~ pane~l~ t~n~ to l~e ~lat<. The p~r~o~ted fold Ii~e g e~ble~ t~ 1~E~ ~ lle ~J ~t aLg~ln~t t~
20 I:~RC~C p~n~l wi~h only mlnim;~l t~nd~ncy ~ un~s~ld~
Cons~quently, ~ir bubbl~s ~ e tnhlbit~d frc~m ~orming ~ n~i~e the env~lopo, ~nd ~lle en~lo~e 1~ lily acc~p~ble by hlg~ ~pe~d ch~ck ~oce~ ng machln~ry.
Mor~ove~ th~ tran~ver~ p~ne~ snargin~ insd 4y t~e 25 ~l~rip~ '~7 provid~ oxc~ 3nt l~ding ~dg~ ~03~ going througll th~ p~o ::eo~ing ma~h~nery.
~ urth~r ln acco~d~nc~ wil:h th~ pr~n'c inv~ntion, th0 f lap 7 can oE~'clora~l~y ~e manu~ ur~
wlth a no~h 23 ln at l~t on~ trans~e~r~e ~dge 30 thar~ao~, ~IG~. 2-4. Irl the prea~erred ~m~odlmen~, the otc}l 23 18 cut ~rom the ~lat in th~ ~ac~ tlon ~
b~tw~.n the fold llne ~ and th~ Ad~ str~p 21. It will ba ~otlcea in FI~ 3 ~hat, when th~ ~lap ia ~a~ed, ~h~rs i~ r~o ~llng ~ontact ~etween ~he ~lap 35 ~p~ce 22 ~ the ba~k p~n~l 4~hc:e ~O ~ln~ th~3 ~3pac:~ ~ 5 , .

between the back panel free edge 12 and the fold line 9. As a result, a passage way 25 extending the len~th of the envelope is created between the fold line 9 and the joined adhesive strips 19, 21. Thuæ, when the flap is sealed, the notch creates an entry into the passage way in-to which a conventional letter opener may be inserted for opening the envelope. The perforated nature of the fold line 9 enhances tearing along the fold line by the letter opener to very ~uickly open the envelope. Alternatively, enhanced opening capability may be provided by increasing the height of the ~lap 7 which would afford easier entry of a tool.
The present invention is also concerned with encoding the envelope 1 with data that renders it suitable for high speed check processing. For that purpose, the outside face 27 of the front pane 3 is imprinted with American 3ankers Association microread encoding indicia 29 that indicates the document is a high speed return and identifies the clearing house.
The front face 27 is also imprinted with form areas 31, 33, and 35 in which the returning institution encodes its American Bankers Association number, the American Bankers Association number of the bank of deposit and the amount of the check, respectively. Thus, the return check is fully processible by automated machinery when it is enclosed within the envelope, because all the requisite information is on the outside of the envelope.
Pursuant to the invention, the document enclosed in the envelope 1 is completely protected on its journey from the returning institution to the institution of deposit. Return endorsements and spray trace numbers are made on the outside face 18. That prevents destruction or overprinting of the original endorsement and allows e~asy traceback of both the check .. . .

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And th~ en~310p~ ln ~he ~osw~rd and return dlrectlon~.
To a 1 low pro~es ing the en~alop~ 1 ~nd checX
~hrough every ~clnd o~ proo~ equlpm~n~ and hlgh ~p~d reader~ an~ ~orter~ tha ~to~k of the 1: 'lank l l 1~ o~ a 5 car~ul.ly ~ontroll~d qu~lity and thi~kn~s. l'h~
preferred ~tock mat~rlal 18 a 20-pound c~len~ar bon~l ~per about ~ 004 in~h~ ~hick that ~capt3 printlng ~o a~ to hav~ hlgh quallky ~Ad~bll~ ty. l~t l ~ further preperred that t~e m~erl~l ~e o~ a s~istlnct color,

3 0 ~uch ~ k, whi~h i~ ea~ d~t~ngul~d ~rom ths c013~ o~ other ~ocument~ wlth w~lch lt ma~t ~e as~oc~ed ~nd proce~sed~ The ~re~r~e~ envelop~ Q
1~ ~bout 9 ~nche~ lon~ by 4 inch~ wide. :Envelop~3 made s~ordlns to th~ p~e~en~ lnventlon h~v~ a re~ ac' 15 rAt~ o~ le~ th~n . 0025% .
Thus, lt 1~ apparent that there has been provlded, in ~ccordance with the lnv~ntlon, a document ¢axri~r envelop~ whlCh ~ully ~atl~le~ th~ aims and ~dvantAge~ ~t forth a~ove. Whlle ~ha inv~ntlo~ h~
20 b~en d~8crlbedl ln c:on~unc:tlon with 8p~ci~1c embo~lmç~nt~
~h2reo~, it i~ evl~ent: ~h~t many alt~rn~tiv~, modi~lcatlon~, and varl~ lon~ ~111 l~e ~pp~rent ~co Shose ~kill~d in th~ a~t ln l~ght o~ the :~ore~olng rlp~orl. Accord~ngly ~t ~s ln~ende~ to embrace all ~uch alt~rn~tive8~ modi~lcation~, an~ vaxlatio~
~all within th~3 ~plrl~ ~nsl b~oad ~ p~ of the appanded ala~

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are as follows:

1. A document carrier envelope for protectively transporting a document through high speed processing equipment comprising:
a. a front panel having an outside face imprinted with predetermined financial indicia readable by the high speed processing equipment and an unprinted inside face;
b. a back panel joined to the front panel along a first fold lines and having opposed transverses edges and a free longitudinal edge, the back panel having first fastening means applied to the margins thereof along the transverse edges and second fastening means applied thereto adjacent the first fold line, both fastening means being applied to the same panel face, the back panel being folded over along the first fold line into facing contact with the front panel inside face to join the front and back panels along the first and second fastening means; and c. a flap having a pair of opposed transverse edges and joined to the front panel along a second fold line, the flap being adapted to fold over onto the back panel along the second fold line, the second fold line being perforated, the flap having fastening means applied longitudinally thereto at a spaced distance from the second fold line, the flap defining a notch in at least one transverse edge thereof generally in the space between the second fold line and the flap fastening means, so that when the flap is folded over onto the back panel, the document carrier envelope is sealed along the four edges thereof and the notch provides an entry for receiving a tool for rapidly opening the document carrier envelope.

2. The document carrier envelope of claim 1 wherein the front and back panels and the flap are fabricated from an opaque material, so that the confidentiality of the document transported in the document carrier envelope is preserved.

3. The document carrier envelope of claim 2 wherein the first and second fastening means applied to the back panels are strips of adhesive compatible with the opaque material.

4. The document carrier envelope of claim 2 wherein the first fastening means applied to the back panel transverse margins extends the full length thereof and intersect the second fastening means applied adjacent the first fold line, so that when the flap is folded over onto the back panel the document carrier envelope is sealed substantially continously along the four edges thereof and entry of air into the envelope is prevented to thereby enhance handing thereof by the high speed processing equipment.

5. The document carrier envelope of claim 2 wherein:
a. the free longitudinal edge of the back panel is spaced from the second fold line when the back panel is in folded and sealed relation to the front panel;
b. the fastening means applied to the flap is a first strip of cohesive; and c. a second strip of cohesive compatible with the first strip of cohesive is applied longitudianally to the back panel at a location spaced from the free longitudinal edge thereof and coincident with the first strip of cohesive when the flap is folded over onto the back panel, so that when the flap is folded over and sealed to the back panel a longitudinal passage way is created between the second fold line and the sealed first and second strips of adhesive to facilitate opening the envelope by the use of a letter opening tool.

6. The document carrier envelope of claim 2 wherein:
a. a return check is transported by the document carrier envelope; and b. the financial indicia printed on the outside face of the front panel indicates the envelope as a high speed check return and identifies at least one clearing house for processing the return check.

7. The document carrier envelope of claim 6 wherein the financial indicia imprinted on the outside face of the front panel further includes form areas for receiving coded information identifying the financial institutions processing the return check and the amount of the return check.

8. a document carrier envelope for protectively transporting a document through high speed processing equipment comprising:
a. a front panel having an outside face imprinted with predetermined financial indicia readable by the high speed processing equipment and an unprinted inside face;
b. a back panel joined to the front panel along a first fold line and having opposed transverse edges and a free longitudinal edge, the back panel having first fastening means applied to the margins thereof along the transverse edges and second fastening means applied thereto adjacent the first fold line, both fastening means being applied to the same panel face, the back panel being folded over along the first fold line into facing contact with the front panel inside face to join the front and back panels along the first and second fastening means; and c. a flap having a pair of opposed transverse edges and joined to the front panel along a second fold line, the flap being adapted to fold over onto the back panel along the second fold line, the second fold line being perforated, the flap having fastening means applied longitudinally thereto at a spaced distance from the second fold line, the front and back panel made from paper .004 inches thick.

9. The document carrier envelope of claim 8 wherein the front and back panels and the flap are fabricated from an opaque material, so that the confidentiality of the document transported in the document carrier envelope is preserved.

10. The document carrier envelope of claim wherein the first and second fastening means applied to the back panels are strips of adhesive compatible with the opaque material.

11. The document carrier envelope of claim 9 wherein the first fastening means applied to the back panel transverse margins extends the full length thereof and intersects the second fastening means applied adjacent the first fold line.
so that when the flap is folded over onto the back panel the document carrier envelope is sealed substantially continuously along the four edges thereof and entry of air into the envelope is prevented to thereby enhance handing thereof by the high speed processing equipment.

12. The document carrier envelope of claim 9 wherein:
a. the free longitudinal edge of the back panel is spaced from the second fold line when the back panel is in folded and sealed relation to the front panel;
b. the fastening means applied to the flap is a first strip of cohesive; and c. a second strip of cohesive compatible with the first strip of cohesive is applied longitudinally to the back panel at a location spaced from the free longitudinal edge thereof and coincident with the first strip of cohesive when the flap is folded over on to the back panel, so that when the flap is folded over and sealed to the back panel a longitudinal passage way is created between the second fold line and the sealed first and second strips of adhesive to facilitate opening the envelope by the use of a letter opening tool.

13. The document carrier envelope of claim 9 wherein:
a. a return check is transported by the document carrier envelope; and b. the financial indicia printed on the outside pace of the front panel indicates the envelope as a high speed check return and identifies at least one clearing house for processing the return check.

14. The document carrier envelope of claim 13 wherein the financial indicia imprinted on the outside face of the front panel further includes form areas for receiving coded information identifying the financial institutions processing the return check and the amount of the return check.